Paris Games: Matildas out to end 14-year trophy drought

The Matildas last took home a piece of silverware in 2010. Their stars are hoping to change that at this year’s Olympic Games in France.

The Matildas attending their first Olympics, from left Cortnee Vine, Kaitlyn Torpey, Clare Hunt and Clare Wheeler. Picture: Getty Images

It’s been 14 years since the Matildas last took home a piece of silverware.

That was the women’s Asian Cup in 2010. At that final in China, there was only one Australian fan in the stands and that was the dad of Matildas midfielder Heather Garriock. The Matildas won in a penalty shootout and a 16-year-old named Sam Kerr first emerged as a star.

Today the Matildas fill stadiums to the brim and while they have that astronomical, record-breaking support, what they don’t have right now is “that medal” and they are determined to change that at next month’s Olympics.

From Matildas’ star Mary Fowler to captain Steph Catley to vice-captain Ellie Carpenter and winger Hayley Raso – the message was the same at Tuesday’s Olympic team announcement at Sydney Olympic Park: it’s time to bring home the silverware.

At the team’s presentation, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson described the group as “very very special” and that they feared no-one heading into Paris. They need that belief as they will start their campaign off against powerhouse Germany, while the US are also in their group.

Carpenter said the Olympics were going to be “cutthroat” and while the team have been together for a long time, “the only thing missing” for them was the silverware.

The focus in preparing for these Olympics was remaining mentally and physically strong enough to collect a medal, Carpenter said.

“It’s the final details at the end of the tournament. You know we’re all tired, we’ve played six games … you know obviously there’s going to be fatigue, that’s what we’re really focusing on,” Carpenter said. “It’s going to be cutthroat, and we know what it needs to take to be there. So we really need to be prepared and we’re really going to be pushing for that medal.”

The team is loaded with experience: Catley, vice-captains Emily van Egmond and Carpenter, plus goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop will all take part in their third Olympics.

Fowler – heading to her second Olympics – said this could be many players’ last Games and this was a driving force for the group. She said this team’s belief had never “faltered” and the Olympic in France could be their stage for success.

“I mean, every athlete going to the Olympics wants to obviously win silverware, but I think for us as a group, we have such a good group and I think we do deserve something to show for it as well, and it almost feels like this is our last opportunity with this group … so it’s definitely going to be driver,” Fowler said.

“I mean, the last Olympics sticks pretty firm in my head, being so close and falling short …”

The Matildas’ hopes of winning Australia’s first Olympic medal in women’s football were dashed by the United States in Tokyo. The US beat the Matildas in the bronze medal match, 4-3. Australia also finished fourth place at last year’s World Cup.

Raso said the frustration has been building about missing out on a medal at the major tournaments.

Raso said the frustration has been building about missing out on a medal at the major tournaments.

“We’ve come fourth a couple of times now and… it’s getting on our nerves a little bit,” Raso said. “We are really wanting to achieve something and bring something back. So, I think we’ve all got the same goal. We’ll be obviously focusing on one game at a time, but we want to come away with something from this Olympics…”

Matildas captain Catley remained optimistic they are in a strong position to have a tilt.

“I think we are in a really good place right now. I think some of the experiences we’ve gone through, especially over the last year, especially with the home World Cup, I think in terms of pressure and handling major tournaments, we’ve done the highest of pressures and we’ve proven that we can perform under that sort of pressure,” Catley said.

“I think the team’s looking good. We’ve got a lot of work to do still. I think these games are a really good marker for us to see where we’re at and what we need to improve on, and we do have work to do going into the Olympics.

“But we’ve got time and we don’t want to be peaking right now. We want to be peaking in around a month … I’m excited to see what we can do over there.”

Of the team who won the Asian Cup 14 years ago, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop were named in the Olympic squad destined for France. While a teenage Kerr was also part of that last trophy raising team, she will not travel to her third Olympics due to the knee injury she sustained in January and will likely watch the Games from her UK base.

Carpenter, who has been part of this team for a decade now, says the Matildas know “what it takes” and have faith they can go all the way in France.

“This team is very special … it’s so unique,” Carpenter said. “Whether we are on the field, off the field … it’s like a family and we always fight for each other, play for each other no matter what.”

Australia will play Germany on July 25 in Marseilles, Zambia in Nice on July 28 and then the US in Marseilles on July 31.